Arch support



Jan. s, 1929.. 1,698,003 I E. H. RIEKE ARCH SUPPORT` FiledvAprl 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. `i929.

U l 'li EDWARD H. RIEKE, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA.

Anoia SUPPORT.

Application filed April 9,

sition and permit the foot to move in the usual manner while walking. Y

Further, the invention contemplates an arch support which is self-adjusting to the l arch of the human foot, allowing the latter to -roll or move in a natural'manner incident to walking. Y

Still another object of my invention is to provide an arch support which will adjust itself to the arch "rather than adjust the foot to the arch support, as is customary with devices of this character now in use.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an arch support employing a cushioned floating arch-supporting element which will always effectively engage the arch and produce a maximum pressure on vthe small bones of the arch and thereby tend to force them back into their normal position to correct the ycommon foot ailment known as fallen arches. 1

My invention also contemplates an arch support which in additionto permitting the foot to move in a natural manner and effectively brace or support .the arch, may be worn in the shoe Without discomfort.

On the drawing- Fig. 1 is a view of a shoe broken away at one side and illustrating my improved arch support in use; y.

Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the various elements or units of the device;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in perspective;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view; f 4o F ig. "5 is a transverse sectional view of vthe device. l

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4:.

Referrin'gto the drawings in detail wherein corresponding charactersrof reference denote corresponding parts throughout the sev- Aeral views, the numeral 5 designates a base' plate formed of light stout metal and having the outline of the sole of a shoe.v The rear or posterior end of the plate is depressed as at 6, tol conveniently and comfortably re- -ceive the heel of the shoe. The forward or anterior end of the late is raised or rounded as at 7, to lie under the metatarsal arch of thel foot. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the

longitudinal edges andthe posterior end ofk vposterior end.

192e. serial No. 100,787.

the plate 5.are bent upwardly to produce an angular marginal flange 8, the purposeof which iste strengthen the plate andobviate the cutting of the leather of the shoe.

Arranged above the plate 5:.and extending longitudinally-- of the same is an "archsupporting plate 9 also constructed from light stout metal and having its opposite ends stopped short of the opposite ends of the plate 5. The'forward or anterior end of the arch-supporting plate `9 is provided with a semi-circularnotch 10, the edge of which i 'coincides with the curve at'the inner edge of the raisedor rounded anterior part?. :The

opposite .end of the plate 9 is alsoprovided Vwith a `semi-circular recess :11 `which..coin

cides with an extension around the .depressed A leather `insole 12 of 4the same conguration as theplate 5 is disposed upon the upper face of athe arch-supporting plate 9 and is secured to ithelatter by means of rivets or other fastenings 13. Byfthe provisionv of the notches 10 and-'l1 lthe anterior' and posterior parts of the insole 12 `will lconfo-rm tothe shape of the posterior part 7 and anterior part (ifofttheplate 5.

The present invention contemplates ymounting :the arch-zsupportingplate 9 for floating movement on :theplate 5 `to permit the foot to lroll or Afmovelinlthe natural manner while walking. iTha't is to'say,lin walking the foot oscillates and simultaneously shifts backV and forth in'the shoe. 'This movement is accomplished by ymeans of an oscillatory and reciprocatory `resilient support designated in:its entirety at 14. -lThis support 14- is constructed `from a blank `of f sheet metal lbent l"transversely uponitself as at 15, toprovide a pair of divergentwplatesv or legs l-and 17. The support lll-extends transversely/.of the arch-supporting plate 9 at Vthe `crest of thelattcr, with .the .plate or leg 16 extending parallel to and contacting with the archssupporting plate 9 fas shown inl Fig. i5, and isI riveted or otherwise ssecured to the latterby fastenings 18.

As particularly illustrated vin Fig. 2, the leg or plate 17 4'is longitudinallycurved `and is adapted for simultaneous rocking and 'lon' gitudinal movement on the plate 5. Projecting from the plate 5 at `vthe medial arch is a. plurality of upstandingpins 19, theila'tter. being arranged in a. diagonalline withfrespect to the longitudinal axis ofthe plate. lots'()V are provided in the lleg 17 andare disposed in stepped relation to coincide with lem 17 'from the pins 19 a leaf spring 21 is supported on the intermediate post or pin 19 with its ends bearing against the ends of the leg 17. rIhis intermediate pin or post 19 is slightly larger in diameter than the remaining pins and is provided with a vertical bore y' 22 receiving a tapered `fastening 23, the latter passing through a central opening 24 in the leafspring 21. In order to secure the tapered Vfastening 23 within this post 19 the ylatter is squeezed or crimped as illustrated in'Fig. 5.

A plurality or aligned coil springs 25 is interposed between the legs '16 and 17 to cushion the arch-supporting plate 9 and press the same into the arch of the human lfoot. In connection Ywith these springs 25 it -will be observed that any'practical number ofthe same may be employed and that Ythey will be of a potential strength to withstand l the Weight or' the person using the device.

It willalso be observed thatthe coil springs are connected to the legs 16 and 17 Vwithout `the employment of rivets or other separable f fastenings. Each of the legs is formed with a pair of transversely aligned, inwardly directed, tubular bosses 26 which project into These tubular bosses are formed with spaced circumferential incisions 27, permitting the l bosses to be crimped around the endmost vconvolutions of the springs as designated Furthermore, these springs must be so arranged as to attain a perfect balance for the Y foot while the latter tips longitudinally and transversely during walking.

Due to kthe tendency of the human foot to spread or move to one side durin walking, there will be a tendency of the arc -supporting plate 9 to move laterally when it is under compression. This objection is obviated by arranging bearing balls 28 in alongitudinal track or raceway 29 at one side of the posterior part 7 of the plate 5. A longitudinal recess or depression 8O is formed in the archsupporting plate 9 in vertical alignment with the bearing balls 28 and engages the latter as the arch-supporting plate comes Vincontact with the base plate l5.

A resilient angularly disposed plate31 is secured to the underface of the posterior,l

f end 6. This resilient plate 31 acts as a cushion or shock absorber to the heel as the latter strikes the ground. However, this resilient plate 31 may be dispensed with if desired.

i One of the diiiiculties of the present rigid ,archsupport is that it cracks or breaks at the medial arch point. This objection is overcome bymy invention due to the fact that the medial arch point of the arch support is cushioned by the coil springs 25.

Having thus described my invention,

the endmost convolution's of the ysprings 25.

3. An arch comprising an arch-supporting Y plate, a resilient plate extending transversely of the crest of the arch-supporting plate and attached to the latter, and means for mounting the resilient plate for longitudinal and rocking motions to permit the human foot to move naturally while the arch thereof is supported. v

Li.-An arch support comprising a Ibase plate, an arch-supporting platey arranged labove the latter, a rocking and sliding support secured to the arch-supporting plate and resting upon the base plate.

5. An arch support including a base, an arch-supporting plate arranged above the latter, a pair of relatively narrow diver-y gent plates interposed between the base plate and arch-supporting plate and extending transversely across thecrest of the latter, eXpansible elements interposed between the divergent plates, one of such plates being longitudinally bowed and roclrably and slidably mounted onv the base plate.

p 6. An arch support including a base, an arch-supporting plate arranged above the latter, a pair of relatively narrow divergent plates interposed between the base plate and arch-supporting plate and `extending transversely across the crest of the latter, eX- pansible elements interposed between the divergent plates, one of such plates being longitudinally bowed and roclrably and slidably mounted on the` base'plate, and split bosses on the plates and crimped to the eXpansible elements.

' 7. An arch support comprising a base, a

arch-supporting plate arranged above the latter, a rocking and-sliding member carried bythe under face of the arch-supporting plate and resting upon the base plate,

Aoperative connections between the rocking and sliding memberand base plate, and eX- pansible means interposed between the base plate and arch-supporting plate.

8. An arch support including a base plate loo on the base plate, a protective pad attached to the larch-supporting plate and accommodating itself to the posterior and anterior ends of the base plate, and resilient elements interposed between the base plate and archsupporting` plate. y

9. An arch support including a base plate, an arch-supporting plate mounted thereon for oscillatory movement, cushioning means between the base plate and arch-supporting plate and arranged to exert pressure at the crest of the arch-supporting plate to resil-k iently support the latter and to prevent breaking of the said arch-supporting plate at the crest. v

10. An arch support comprising a base plate, a longitudinally bowed rocking element mounted on the base plate and capable of a slight longitudinal movement thereon, and an arch supporting plate unattached to the base plate but attached to the rocking element.

11. In an arch support, a fixed plate, an arch supporting plate, a resilient plate transversely secured to the arch supporting plate and having a turned under portion with a .rocking face and adapted to rock on the lixed plate, and cushioning means between the arch supporting plate and said turned under portion.

12. The arch support of claim 11, with cushioning means for the heel' and a metatar'sal pad adapted to support the anterior portion of the foot as the turned under portion rocks forward to place the weight to Ward the anterior portion of the foot.

. ln witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe my name this 27th day of March, 1926.

EDWARD HRIEKE. 

